Sorry I took so long!

North/South Pole Magnetism

Chapter Three: A Little Closer

Harry was just walking home from work—completely exhausted by the days demands. He decided to go a different route home, one that was a little farther so he could get his mind off the deadlines. He passed a large building to the right, with large windows. It appeared to be a dance studio. Then someone passed through the window he did not expect: Luna Lovegood.

Harry didn't know what to do. Should he go up to her? She looks like she's by herself, Harry thought. And so he opened the door and walked up the stairs. Music seeped from inside the room, telling Harry what room Luna was in. When he found it, he knocked quietly on the door.

The music stopped immediately, and Luna opened the door.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, "how wonderful!"

"How've you been?" Harry asked nervously.

"Fantastic!"

"Great. I didn't know you danced."

"Oh, yes. I've been dancing for quite some time now. Daddy put me in lessons when I was young to cure me of hyperappalation and I've loved it ever since."

"What's hyperappalation?" Harry doubted it was real.

"Well, it's when the mind can't focus on one thing for a long period of time."

"You mean ADD?"

"Oh no! That's when you have beatmonks harvesting in your ears."

Once again, Harry found himself mesmerized and skeptical all at the same time. This statement would bring about yet another question on the nature of beatmonks, so Harry just changed the subject.

"Is dancing pretty hard?"

"No, not at all! Let me teach you something."

"Ah…no that's okay. I-I don't dance." There was no way Harry was dancing.

"Oh, come on. Take your shoes off, it makes it so much easier. Less hostility with the ground."

She went to the stereo as Harry reluctantly took off his shoes. Beautiful violin filled the room.

"Come here," she said smiling. "Now, put your hand on my waist."

"Um…okay." Harry felt himself going red. He gently put his right hand on her waist.

"You can stand closer, you know."

Harry looked down and realized the immense distance he had put in between them. "Oh, sorry…" He stepped closer. She took one of his hands in hers, and then placed her other hand on his shoulder.

"Now all you will do is step 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, and so on. Ready."

"I guess." He really wasn't. She counted off the beginning and they began a waltz. About six counts in, Harry tripped over her feet.

"Oh, sorry! Did I hurt you?" This was not going well for Harry.
"Of course not! Although I don't think this is the right style for you. I see you as more of a hip-hopper."

"A hip-hopper!" Harry couldn't control himself. He burst into laughter at this ridiculous comment. "I differently do not hip-hop."

Luna looked a little angry. "Well, if you would rather leave."

Harry didn't want to leave, but he didn't want to dance, either. "No I don't want to go, but—"

"Then just learn this short move." She looked at Harry with a sad, puppy-dog face.

"Okay, as long as it's not too hard." He couldn't believe he was doing this.

"Oh, goodie! Alright, the first move is a partner part."

"I didn't do so well with that before."

"This is different. First off, we have to stand a lot closer."

"Closer?" Harry's face became hotter and hotter until he was sure it was brick red.

He took a step closer, leaving a bit of room in between.

"Closer than that." Luna suggested. Harry could tell she looked a bit nervous herself.

He stepped closer, getting rid of the space between them. Their faces were almost touching.

"Um, is that close enough?"

"Yes," she said quietly.

All of a sudden there was a knock on the door. The two stepped apart instantly.

"Oh, there's a class at 7 o'clock. I-I guess we have to leave," Luna said.

To Harry, Luna looked very out of character to be so nervous. She picked up her dance bag and went for the door; Harry followed. They walked out of the building, watching the little girls going in for their class.

"Well, I guess I better get home," Luna said.

"Wait, Luna, this may sound stupid, but do you maybe want to do something together sometime?" That wasn't what it sounded like in Harry's head.

"Didn't we just do something together?"

"I mean, like something planned."

"Oh." Luna looked a little shocked.

"If you don't want to that's fine. I just thought—"

"No, I want to."

"Really? Um…okay, can I have your phone number?" he said smiling.

"I don't believe in phones," she said simply.

"Oh. Well, do you believe in snail mail?"

"Absolutely! I love snail mail!" She wrote out her address on a small piece of paper from her bag and handed it to Harry.

"Thanks. I'll write you soon."

"All right. I'll see you later then." She smiled broadly.

"Yes, you will." And Harry returned the smile.